Cleaning device for hose, pipes, and the like



E. SCHAER 2,085,453

CLEANING DEVICE FOR HOSE, PIPES, AND THE LIKE June 29, 193 7.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1955 E. SCHAER 2,085,453

CLEANING DEVICE FOR HOSE, PIPES, AND THE LIKE June 29, 1937 2Sheets-,Sheef 2 Filed June 29, 1935 Ado/my Patented June 29, 1937CLEANING DEVICE FOR HOSE, PIPES, AND THE LIKE Eugene Schaer, FortFrances, Ontario, Canada Application June 29,

1935, Serial No. 29,059

In Canada May 9, 1935 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a cleaning device for hose, pipes, coils andthe like and more particularly to a cleaner for brewers beer hose andpipes.

The object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device which iseffective in action and semi-automatic in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve means whichmay be used. in con- 10 nection with a cleaning device and whichrequires a minimum actuating movement for placing in a plurality ofoperating positions.

Another object is to provide a novel means for incorporating asterilizing compound in the liquid employed in the cleansing operation.

Another object is to provide a novel frictional cleansing medium for acleaning device.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the cleaning device as applied to thetreatment of a beer hose,

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the valve means and associatedparts,

' Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an elevation of a rotary valve member, 1

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an elevation of a frictional cleansing body,

Figure '7 is an elevation of another form of cleansing body, and

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of another form of valve means.

In the drawings I represents the valve means and 2 the cleansing body,shown in Figure 1 as positioned in a beer hose circuit 3, formed bydisconnecting the usual hose lines from the kegs 4 and connecting theends of the same by means of the coupling 5, and short auxiliary lengthsof hose 6 connecting the usual taps l to the valve. The usual coolingcoils B may also be included in the circuit. 7

Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the valve means l comprises a housing 9 anda circular tapered valve member In mounted for rotation in acorresponding bcaring surface within the housing 9, being held thereinby the retaining flange I! screwed to the housing 9. A handle lisQprovided for rotating the member It and, as shown, is keyed to a stem31 on the member in. Means are provided for positioning the member ID intwo operative positions and comprises a stop 38 carried by the stem 31and adapted toengage the sides of an opening 39 in the flange H asshown. The housing 9 is provided with an inlet port ii, an outlet portl3 and two additional ports M and I l oppositely disposed. The valvemember I!) is provided with a channel it and a grooved portion It. Itwill be noted that the channel i5 is adapted to register ports I? and Mor M, while the grooved portion it is adapted to register ports M or Mand l3.

Hose or pipe couplings ll are provided in the ports Hi and M andincorporated therewith are observing glass assemblies comprising glasstubes iii and metal covers l9. Screens iii are located at the inner endsof the glass tubes l8 and retaining plugs 2i serve. to hold the screens20 and tubes E8 in place.

Means may be provided for adding a sterilizing compound or solution tothe liquid supply and in this instance includes a mixing chamber 22mounted on the housing 9 and consisting of a glass body portion 23 and acover 26 positioned thereon by means of a screw handle 25. A tube 2%,having threaded engagement with the inlet port l2 of the valve housingextends upwardly and centrally through the chamber 22 and is providedwith a plurality of apertures 21 adjacent the upper portion of thechamber. A plate 23 forms the bottom of the chamber 22 and seats on thering 29 surrounding the tube 26 and resting on the housing 9. A rubbergasket 39 may be provided for the purpose of main- N taining the plate23 and glass body 23 in liquid sealing engagement. A liquid distributingnozzle 31 is formed in the plate 28 adjacent the opening of a channel 32formed, as shown, in the housing 9 and leading to an inlet 33. A pfimingplug 34 is located inthe cover 24.

A cleansing body 2 is provided and, as shown in Figure 6, consists of anumber of sponge rubber brushes 35 mounted on a rubber frame member 36.The cleansing body'shown in Figure '7 is somewhat similar to that shownin Figure 6 and includes a brush retaining shaft ill on which is mountedthe brushes t5 with'supporting washers 4| and a pair of guiding andpropelling cup members 42 at either end thereof. Channels 43 and 43' areformed centrally in the shaft All, being separated by a wall M in theshaft. Each channel isprovided with a pair of ports 45 and 45' adjacentthe wall 43.

In operation, the device is positioned in a hose circuit to be cleanedas shown in Figure 1, the hose lengths 6 being connected to thecouplings I! and a cleansing body 2 having been previously insertedtherein. A suitable amount of sterilizing compound or solution is placedin the chamber 22 by means of the priming plug 34. The inlet 33 isconnected to a source of water, under pressure, which may be the usualwater line. The water flows through the channel 32 and nozzle 3| whichimparts a swirling motion to the water as it enters the chamber 22, thusensuring a thorough mixing or dissolving of the sterilizing solution orcompound in the water. The water, rising in the chamber 22, flowsthrough the apertures 21, into the tube 26 and into the valve housingthrough inlet port 12. With the valve member ID in the position shown inFigure. 2, the water flows through channel [5, port [4 and into the hosewhere it engages the cleansing body 2 and propels the same through thehose circuit to frictionally cleanse the same of slime and sediment. Theliquid ahead of the cleansing body 2 is forced into the housing 9through port M, around the grooved portion l6 and out of outlet port l3.When the cleansing body 2 arrives at the other end of the circuit, itengages the screen 23 and may be observed through glass tube It. Thehandle of valve member i 9 is then given a quarter turn or until thestop 38 engages the opposite side of opening 39, which registers portsl2 and I4 and M and 13, thus reversing the fiow of water through thecircuit and forcing the cleansing body back through the circuit again.The operation is repeated until clear water flows from the outlet port.43.

The frictional cleansing action of the sponge rubber brushes of thecleansing body is augmented, by a suction action created by the vacuumwhere the brushes come in contact with the lining of the hose or coildue to the porousness of the brushes. Since the cleansing body is formedentirely of rubber, it possesses the necessary flexibility for propernegotiation of the. bends and turns in the hose and coils.

The cleansing body shown in Figure '7 is particularly well adapted forthe purpose required. In use, the cup members 42 assist in thepropulsion and guiding of the body. Moreover liquid is permitted toenter the channel 43 and to flow out through ports 45, thus supplying asufficient amount of water for lubrication of brushes 35. This liquid,together with any accumulation of dirt and slime, enters the ports 55'and emerges through channel 43 into the drainage portion of the circuit.The formation or vacuum in the space between the brushes is also avoidedby this construction. The same action takes place in a reverse directionwhen the brush is travelling in the opposite. direction.

The valve means shown in Figure 8 is similar to that shown in Figures 2and 3 but differs somewhat in design and does not include a mixingchamber. The valve member i8 is the same as that employed in themodification shown in Figures 2 and 3 and the operation thereof isidentical. Obviously a prepared sterilizing solution may be pumpedthrough inlet port I2 in this modification instead of the usual watersupply. On the other hand, the use of a sterilizing solution in themixing chamber 22 of the modification shown in Figures 2 and 3 may beomitted.

It will be observed that the invention provides a most effective andconvenient cleaning means, not only for beer hose and pipes, but for anytype of hose, pipes or coils.

Only a small actuating movement (a one-quarter turn) of the operatinghandle of the valve means is necessary to effect the flow reversal, theneutral or closed position of the valve means be.- ing at the one eighthturn of the handle.

Various additional modifications of the cleansing body and valve meansmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cleaning device for hose, pipes and the like comprising, incombination with a hose or pipe circuit to be cleaned a valve structureinterposed therein having a liquid inlet and means for admittingasterilizing solution to said inlet comprising a mixing chamber mountedupon said structure, means for placing a sterilizing material in saidchamber, a liquid distributing nozzle in the bottom of said chamberconnected to a source of water under pressure and a tube extendingcentrally through said mixing chamber, said tube having communicationwith said liquid inlet at its lower end and having a plurality ofapertures at its upper end for the admission thereto of sterilizingsolution from said mixing chamber.

2. A cleaning device for hose, pipes and the like comprising, incombination with a hose or pipe circuit to be cleaned, valve meansinterposed therein including a valve housing having ports communicatingwith said circuit, a liquid inlet, a waste outlet and a valve memberadapted to place said liquid inlet and said waste outlet in directcommunication with each of said ports, and means for admitting asterilizing solution to said liquid inlet comprising a mixing chambermounted upon said housing, a liquid distributing nozzle in the bottom ofsaid chamber, a channel in said housing connecting said nozzle with asource of water under pressure and a tube extending centrally throughsaid mixing chamber, said tube having communication with said liquidinlet at its lower end and having a plurality of apertures at its upperend for the admission thereto of sterilizing solution from said mixingchamber.

3. In a cleaning device for a hose or pipe circuit, a valve structureinterposed therein having a liquid inlet and means for admitting asterilizing solution to said inlet comprising an upright cylindricalmixing vessel mounted above said valve structure, a liquid distributingnozzle in the bottom of said mixing vessel, a channel in said valvestructure connecting said nozzle with a source of water under pressureand a tube extending centrally through said mixing chamber, said tubehaving communication with said liquid inlet at its lower end and havingsterilizing solution admitting means at its upper end.

EUGENE SCI-IAER.

